Mastering Academic Essay Writing in Law and Healthcare

🔊 Listen to Post

Disclaimer: This article is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute academic, legal, or clinical advice. Students should always follow the specific guidance provided by their institution, awarding body, or professional regulator.

A Practical Step-by-Step Guide for Clear, Critical, and High-Scoring Essays

Academic essay writing in law and healthcare requires more than simply presenting information. Both disciplines demand clarity, structure, critical analysis, and evidence-based reasoning, but they do so in very different ways. Understanding these differences, while mastering the shared foundations of academic writing, is key to producing strong, credible work.

This guide breaks down how to write high-quality academic essays in both fields, with step-by-step guidance you can apply immediately.

The Foundations of Academic Essay Writing (Both Disciplines)

Regardless of subject, strong academic essays share these core principles:

• Clear structure and logical flow
• Precise academic language
• Evidence-based arguments
• Proper referencing and citation
• Critical thinking (not just description)

Where law and healthcare differ is how arguments are constructed and justified.

Step-by-Step Guide: Academic Essay Writing in Law

Step 1: Analyse the Question Carefully

Law essay questions are often problem-based or theoretical. Identify:

• Key legal issues
• Relevant areas of law
• Instructional verbs (e.g. discuss, evaluate, analyse)

Step 2: Plan Using a Legal Framework

Most law essays follow a structured method, such as:

• Issue identification
• Legal principles (case law & statutes)
• Application
• Conclusion

Planning prevents rambling and keeps your argument focused.

Step 3: Use Authority as Evidence

Legal arguments must be supported by:

• Case law
• Statutes
• Academic commentary

Every point should be anchored in authority, not opinion.

Step 4: Apply the Law Critically

High-mark essays do not just state the law, they:

• Compare judicial reasoning
• Highlight inconsistencies
• Discuss policy implications
• Acknowledge counterarguments

Step 5: Write a Focused Conclusion

Your conclusion should:

• Answer the question directly
• Summarise key arguments
• Avoid introducing new material

Step-by-Step Guide: Academic Essay Writing in Healthcare

Step 1: Understand the Clinical or Ethical Context

Healthcare essays often focus on:

• Patient care
• Ethics
• Policy
• Evidence-based practice

Clarify whether the essay is reflective, analytical, or research-based.

Step 2: Research Peer-Reviewed Evidence

Healthcare writing relies heavily on:

• Clinical studies
• Systematic reviews
• National guidelines

Credibility is built through current, peer-reviewed sources.

Step 3: Structure Around Evidence

A typical healthcare essay includes:

• Introduction with context
• Discussion of evidence
• Analysis of outcomes or implications
• Conclusion linked to practice or policy

Step 4: Maintain an Objective, Professional Tone

Avoid emotive or anecdotal language unless reflective writing is explicitly required. Precision and neutrality matter.

Step 5: Link Theory to Practice

High-quality healthcare essays show:

• How evidence informs real-world care
• Implications for patients, professionals, or systems

Key Differences Between Law and Healthcare Essays

Law	Healthcare
Authority-based reasoning	Evidence-based practice
Case law & statutes	Research studies & guidelines
Argument-driven	Outcome-focused
Emphasis on legal interpretation	Emphasis on patient safety & care

Understanding these distinctions helps avoid applying the wrong style to the wrong discipline, a very common reason for lost marks.

Common Mistakes to Avoid (Both Disciplines)

• Describing instead of analysing
• Poor structure or weak introductions
• Over-quoting without explanation
• Outdated or unreliable sources
• Ignoring the question’s command words

Academic Law Essays vs Open University (OU) Law Essays

While the core principles of academic law essay writing apply across universities, Open University (OU) law essays place greater emphasis on clarity, structure, and demonstrating learning, rather than stylistic flair or abstract theory alone.

OU law markers are assessing not just what you know, but how you have engaged with the module materials and developed your legal reasoning. This means that successful OU essays tend to be more explicit, carefully signposted, and closely aligned with the learning outcomes of the module.

Key distinctions include:

• Signposting and structure are essential
  OU essays reward students for clearly outlining what the essay will do and how it will do it. Explicit introductions, topic sentences, and conclusions help guide the marker through your reasoning and attract marks.
• Clear demonstration of learning
  OU markers look for evidence that students understand why legal principles matter, not just what they are. Explaining the significance of cases and linking arguments back to the module materials is strongly encouraged.
• Critical analysis through balance
  Being “critical” in OU law does not mean attacking judges or legal rules. Instead, it involves comparison, evaluation, and recognition of limitations or policy implications in a measured and reasoned way.
• Engagement with OU materials
  Higher-scoring essays often reference concepts, cases, and perspectives introduced in OU textbooks and activities. This shows active engagement with the course and strengthens academic credibility.
• Clarity over complexity
  A well-structured, clearly argued OU essay will often score higher than a more complex or theoretical essay that lacks focus or organisation.

In short, OU law essays value clear thinking, structured reasoning, and visible learning progression as much as legal knowledge itself.

Open University (OU) Law Essay Template

You can reuse this template for most OU law TMAs and exams.

Introduction (Approx. 10% of word count)

• Briefly introduce the topic
• Identify the key legal issue(s) raised by the question
• Set out the scope of the essay
• Clearly signpost what the essay will do

Example structure:
“This essay will examine… It will first outline…, before analysing… Finally, it will conclude by…”

Main Body Paragraphs

Each paragraph should follow a clear and consistent structure:

1. Topic Sentence

• Introduce the legal issue or point being discussed

2. Legal Principle

• Explain the relevant law (case law, statute, or legal concept)
• Reference authoritative sources

3. Application / Analysis

• Apply the law to the issue or question
• Explain why the principle matters
• Compare cases or viewpoints where relevant

4. Critical Evaluation

• Discuss strengths, limitations, or alternative interpretations
• Link back to policy, fairness, or practical implications

5. Link Back to the Question

• Explicitly connect the paragraph to the essay question

Approx. 10% of word count

• Summarise the key arguments made
• Directly answer the essay question
• Reflect the wording of the question
• Avoid introducing new material

Tip: OU conclusions score well when they clearly mirror the structure set out in the introduction.

Referencing

• Use the OU-adapted OSCOLA style
• Reference cases, statutes, and academic commentary accurately
• Ensure consistency throughout

Final Thoughts

Academic success in law and healthcare comes from mastering structure, discipline-specific reasoning, and critical engagement with evidence. While the writing styles differ, the core skills, clarity, planning, and analysis, remain the same.

With practice, confidence, and a solid framework, academic writing becomes less intimidating and far more powerful.